Top 10 Ducks moments of the decade

Dec. 30, 2009

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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10. Ryan Getzlaf drops the gloves with Joe Thornton (April 27, 2009): Getzlaf's fight with Thornton at the opening faceoff of Game 6 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Honda Center was a symbolic move that showed the Ducks weren't going to back down from San Jose. The eighth-seeded Ducks went on that night to eliminate No.1 San Jose, thus becoming the fifth team since 1967-68 to oust the team with the best regular season record in the first round. GETTY IMAGES, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

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9. Henry and Susan Samueli take over ownership (June 20, 2005): The Samuelis changed the culture of the franchise shortly after taking over for Disney, notably re-designing the team uniform in 2006. Under their tenor (which was suspended because of Henry Samueli's role in a stock option scandal), the Ducks have run off 34 playoff victories over the past four seasons and been one of the NHL's more proactive teams in the community. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE REGISTER, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

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8. Petr Sykora ends fourth-longest game in NHL history (April 25, 2003): Sykora (left) took a backhand pass from Adam Oates and beat Dallas goaltender Marty Turco 48 seconds into the fifth overtime to give the Ducks a 4-3 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. The game had 80:48 of overtime, the second-longest in the modern era behind the 92:01 by Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in 2000. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

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6. The Ducks land Chris Pronger (July 6, 2006): Former general manager Brian Burke put the final piece of the Stanley Cup puzzle in place when he acquired former Hart Trophy winner Pronger from Edmonton for Joffrey Lupul, Ladislav Smid and three draft picks. For all his controversy, Pronger brought much-needed surliness to the Ducks blueline and gave them a bookend Norris Trophy winner beside Scott Niedermayer. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

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5. Teemu Selanne's overtime goal beats Detroit (May 20, 2007): Selanne roofed a shot over a sprawling Detroit goaltender Dominek Hasek 11:57 into overtime in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals to give the Ducks a 3-2 series lead, stamping the Ducks as a team destined to win the Stanley Cup. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

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7. The Ducks sign Scott Niedermayer (Aug.4, 2005): The fortunes of the franchise took a dramatic turn when future Hall of Famer Niedermayer turned down an offer worth $7.8 million per season from the New Jersey Devils to come play with his brother, Rob, in Anaheim. The most decorated player in NHL history, Niedermayer captained the Ducks to the 2007 Stanley Cup. ROSE PALMISANO, THE REGISTER, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

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4. The Ducks net Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in the draft (June 21, 2003): In a matter of hours, the Ducks acquired two cornerstones of the franchise when they selected Getzlaf 19th and Perry 28th. Born six days apart, the linemates teamed with Dustin Penner on the "Points Per Game Line" in the 2007 Stanley Cup run and now form one of the top lines in the NHL. AP PHOTO, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

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3. Ruslan Salei keeps the dream alive (May 31, 2003): Salei's wrist shot past goaltender Martin Brodeur 6:59 into overtime gave the Ducks a 3-2 victory in the Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The rags-to-riches Ducks had been down, 2-0, in the series, and eventually took New Jersey to seven games. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

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2. Paul Kariya gets up off the canvas (June 6, 2003): There are few hits more frightening than New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Stevens' shoulder blow to Kariya during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Kariya lied motionless on the ice for several minutes and went to the locker room, but his return became the stuff of lore when he came back and scored his first goal of the Finals to help the Ducks to a 5-2 victory at then-Arrowhead Pond. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

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1. Travis Moen seals the Cup (June 6, 2007): It was more symbolic because the final score was 6-2, but Moen officially notched the game winner against Ottawa in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals to seal the first Cup in the Ducks' then-13-year history and the first by a California team. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE REGISTER, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

10. Ryan Getzlaf drops the gloves with Joe Thornton (April 27, 2009): Getzlaf's fight with Thornton at the opening faceoff of Game 6 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Honda Center was a symbolic move that showed the Ducks weren't going to back down from San Jose. The eighth-seeded Ducks went on that night to eliminate No.1 San Jose, thus becoming the fifth team since 1967-68 to oust the team with the best regular season record in the first round. GETTY IMAGES, TEXT BY CURTIS ZUPKE

From Kariya to the Cup, the Ducks have had their share of memorable moments.

Click on the photo to view the 10 most memorable Ducks moments from the decade.

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